After a while Merriwell became worried over the professor’s protracted absence. Going to the door, he stepped outside.
He stepped into full view of two men, who were whispering in the shadows of a draped alcove.
One was the giant Nubian.
The other was Aziz Achmet, the mysterious Turk!
CHAPTER III—THE PERSISTENCE OF ACHMET
There was something decidedly ominous and sinister in the behavior of the coal-black giant and the silent, secretive Turk, who were whispering there in the shadows. In spite of himself, Dick felt a sudden faint chill, like an icy breath, sweep over him.
He stood quite still and regarded them steadily. They saw him, and their whispering stopped. The eyes of the tattooed black man seemed to gleam with a baleful fire, but his dark face remained as unchangeable as marble.
Slowly a strange smile overspread the countenance of Achmet. With a quick, silent step, he advanced toward the boy. He spoke in a low, soft tone:
“So you are safely here, my lad? I see no harm has befallen you.”
His English was almost perfect.